UPChronicle - January 2026

The early skirmishes of UPC practice are giving way to settled patterns—and the first signs of doctrine are taking root. In this edition, we step back from inpidual decisions and orders to chart the procedural waypoints that now shape a UPC case from the outset. Drawing on the growing body of rulings across pisions and the Court of Appeal, we highlight the rules and principles that matter most in the opening moves: how parties frame their pleadings, secure (or resist) provisional measures, and navigate case management choices that can tilt the board before merits are joined.

Efficiency is paramount

The Rules of Procedure ("RoP") preamble states:

...proceedings shall be conducted in a way which will normally allow the final oral hearing on the issues of infringement and validity at first instance to take place within one year whilst recognising that complex actions may require more time and procedural steps and simple actions less time and fewer